-거나 - Or (verbs)

-거나 is a connective ending used to present alternatives or choices between verbs or adjectives. It means "or" when linking actions, states, or conditions.

Structure

Verb/Adjective stem + -거나

Breakdown:

• -거나: Attached directly to verb or adjective stems
• No irregular forms: Works the same for all verbs

Literal meaning: "Or" / "Either... or" (for actions/states)

Basic Usage Rules

With Action Verbs

Connect two possible actions:

• 먹거나 마시다 (eat or drink)
• 가거나 오다 (go or come)
• 읽거나 쓰다 (read or write)
• 자거나 쉬다 (sleep or rest)
• 놀거나 공부하다 (play or study)

With Descriptive Verbs (Adjectives)

Connect two possible states:

• 좋거나 나쁘다 (good or bad)
• 크거나 작다 (big or small)
• 비싸거나 싸다 (expensive or cheap)
• 덥거나 춥다 (hot or cold)
• 예쁘거나 못생기다 (pretty or ugly)

With 하다 Verbs

Works with compound verbs:

• 공부하거나 (study or)
• 요리하거나 (cook or)
• 운동하거나 (exercise or)
• 청소하거나 (clean or)
• 일하거나 (work or)

Core Meaning: Alternative Actions

Presenting Action Choices

Either action is possible:

• 주말에는 영화를 보거나 쇼핑을 해요 (On weekends, I watch movies or go shopping)
• 시간이 있으면 책을 읽거나 음악을 들어요 (If I have time, I read books or listen to music)
• 배고프면 먹거나 간식을 먹어요 (If I'm hungry, I eat or have a snack)

Pattern: Action1-거나 Action2

Multiple Alternatives

More than two options:

• 주말에 영화를 보거나 쇼핑을 하거나 친구를 만나요 (On weekends, I watch movies, go shopping, or meet friends)
• 커피를 마시거나 차를 마시거나 물을 마셔요 (I drink coffee, tea, or water)

Pattern: Action1-거나 Action2-거나 Action3

Common Usage Patterns

Daily Routines

Describing regular alternatives:

• 아침에 빵을 먹거나 밥을 먹어요 (In the morning, I eat bread or rice)
• 퇴근 후에 운동하거나 집에서 쉬어요 (After work, I exercise or rest at home)
• 주말에 친구를 만나거나 가족과 시간을 보내요 (On weekends, I meet friends or spend time with family)

Habits and Preferences

Expressing usual choices:

• 저녁에는 보통 드라마를 보거나 책을 읽어요 (In the evening, I usually watch dramas or read books)
• 심심할 때 음악을 듣거나 게임을 해요 (When I'm bored, I listen to music or play games)
• 시간이 나면 요리하거나 청소해요 (When I have time, I cook or clean)

Conditions with Choices

If/When scenarios:

• 비가 오거나 날씨가 나쁘면 집에 있어요 (If it rains or the weather is bad, I stay home)
• 피곤하거나 아프면 쉬세요 (If you're tired or sick, rest)
• 궁금하거나 모르면 물어보세요 (If you're curious or don't know, ask)

Question Forms

Asking About Alternatives

Which action?:

• 주말에 뭐 해요? 영화를 보거나 쇼핑을 해요? (What do you do on weekends? Watch movies or go shopping?)
• 저녁에 보통 뭐 해요? 운동하거나 쉬어요? (What do you usually do in the evening? Exercise or rest?)

Offering Choices

Suggesting alternatives:

• 커피를 마시거나 차를 마실까요? (Shall we drink coffee or tea?)
• 영화를 보거나 산책할까요? (Shall we watch a movie or take a walk?)

Tense Usage

Present Tense Focus

Most common with present:

• 주말에 쉬거나 놀아요 (On weekends, I rest or play)
• 배고프면 먹거나 간식을 먹어요 (If I'm hungry, I eat or have a snack)

Past Tense

Describing past alternatives:

• 어제 집에서 쉬거나 청소했어요 (Yesterday, I rested or cleaned at home)
• 작년에 여행하거나 공부했어요 (Last year, I traveled or studied)

Future Tense

Planning alternatives:

• 내일 영화를 보거나 쇼핑할 거예요 (Tomorrow, I'll watch a movie or go shopping)
• 다음 주에 친구를 만나거나 집에서 쉴 거예요 (Next week, I'll meet friends or rest at home)

-거나 말거나 (Whether... or not)

Expressing Indifference

"Whether X or not, I don't care":

• 비가 오거나 말거나 갈 거예요 (Whether it rains or not, I'm going)
• 좋거나 말거나 상관없어요 (Whether it's good or not, I don't care)
• 오거나 말거나 괜찮아요 (Whether you come or not, it's okay)

Pattern: Verb-거나 말거나

Meaning: Emphasizes that the outcome doesn't matter

Negative Forms

Either Negative Action

Don't do either:

• 먹지도 않고 마시지도 않아요 (Neither eat nor drink)
• 가지도 않고 오지도 않아요 (Neither go nor come)

Note: Negation typically doesn't use -거나 directly

Not A or B

Can use with 안 or 못:

• 안 먹거나 조금 먹어요 (Don't eat or eat a little)
• 못 가거나 늦게 가요 (Can't go or go late)

-거나 vs Similar Patterns

-거나 vs -(이)나 (Noun or)

-(이)나: Only for nouns

• 커피나 차 (coffee or tea - nouns)

-거나: For verbs and adjectives

• 마시거나 먹다 (drink or eat - verbs)

-거나 vs -든지 (Whether/or)

-거나: Neutral alternatives

• 먹거나 마시다 (eat or drink - simple choice)

-든지: More emphatic, "whichever"

• 먹든지 마시든지 (whether you eat or drink - emphasis)

-거나 vs -(으)면서 (While doing)

-(으)면서: Simultaneous actions

• 음악을 들으면서 공부해요 (study while listening to music)

-거나: Alternative actions

• 음악을 듣거나 공부해요 (listen to music or study)

Politeness Levels

Works in All Contexts

Formal:

• 주말에 독서를 하거나 운동을 합니다 (On weekends, I read or exercise)

Polite:

• 주말에 책을 읽거나 운동해요 (On weekends, I read or exercise)

Casual:

• 주말에 책 읽거나 운동해 (On weekends, I read or exercise)

Conditional Contexts

With -면 (If)

If A or B happens:

• 비가 오거나 눈이 오면 안 갈 거예요 (If it rains or snows, I won't go)
• 피곤하거나 아프면 쉬세요 (If you're tired or sick, rest)
• 궁금하거나 필요하면 연락하세요 (If you're curious or need it, contact me)

Frequency and Habits

Sometimes A, sometimes B:

• 보통 집에서 먹거나 밖에서 먹어요 (Usually eat at home or eat out)
• 가끔 운동하거나 산책해요 (Sometimes exercise or take walks)

Special Expressions

Common Fixed Phrases

Frequent combinations:

• 있거나 없거나 (whether it exists or not)
• 좋거나 싫거나 (whether you like it or not)
• 크거나 작거나 (whether big or small)
• 비싸거나 싸거나 (whether expensive or cheap)

Perspective and Usage

When to Use -거나

Use when:

• Presenting alternative actions or states
• Describing habits with multiple options
• Expressing conditions with choices
• Showing indifference (with -거나 말거나)

Tone:

• Neutral and factual
• Common in descriptions
• Natural in everyday speech

Summary Table

Type	-거나 Form	Example	Meaning
Action verb	-거나	먹거나	eat or
Adjective	-거나	좋거나	good or
하다 verb	-거나	공부하거나	study or
Multiple	-거나...-거나	먹거나 마시거나	eat, drink, or
Indifference	-거나 말거나	오거나 말거나	whether come or not

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Verbal "or": Connects verbs and adjectives
• ✅ Simple attachment: Add -거나 to any stem
• ✅ Multiple choices: Can chain several options
• ✅ Common pattern: Essential for alternatives
• ✅ Indifference form: -거나 말거나 (don't care)
• ✅ All contexts: Works in formal and casual speech

-거나 is the primary way to express "or" between actions and states in Korean, making it essential for describing choices, habits, and alternatives in daily conversation.